This is what you do on Mykonos: Chase Windmills! and other Mykonos Island, Greece Things to Do Tips

Mykonos is famous for its windmills. Not much else. You won't find any ancient Greek temples here, but there are some old monuments on the nearby island of Delos.
Mykonos is a popular stop on cruise ship tours of the Greek Islands. Upon disembarking at port, cruise ship passengers head right for the windmills like a column of ants going after a dropped crumb of baklava.
In the 19th century windmills were built on Mykonos and used to grind wheat into flour.
At one time Mykonos had 28 windmills in operation, but now most are in dilapidated condition. The most photographed windmills are the five in a row visible from the port.
Another popular one is on top of the hill at the Agricultural Museum, which is still in functioning condition.
So, like millions of tourists before your arrival (and the three hundred walking behind you), you go to the set of five windmills on your right as you get off the ship and then make your way up the hill past all of the white buildings to the Agricultural Museum windmill.

Leave a Comment

Address: East of Little Venice on Mykonos Island
Directions: Get off ship. Look right. See those windmills? Walk right. Take twenty photos.
Finished? Look north on the hill. See windmill there? Walk up there. Hurry, before sunset!

I told VT member Sinequanon, A Greek naturalist in Athens, that I would do some serious birdwatching in Greece. (After all, birdwatching is listed among my travel interests!)
What better way to keep my promise than to go watch what is arguably the most famous bird in all of Greece: Petros the Pelican!

Pelican hunting is the #2 tourist activity on Mykonos after windmill chasing. You don't actually shoot the bird with a rifle, but instead use your camera. The pelican population on Mykonos is actually limited to three, and Petros is by far the most popular.

Petros can often be seen with his girlfriend, "Irina" and they are the subject of my featured photo. The third pelican is an injured male who is jealous of Petros' celebrity status (and girlfriend, perhaps) and has an irritable temper.

"Petros" is also the only Greek word you need to know on Mykonos. Just say "Petros" to any local villager in the vicinity of the waterfront and they will point you in the direction of where the famous pelican was last seen. Usually the island's mascot loiters near Nikos Taverna, which is one of the local kitchens that is known to feed Petros. Yet to find Nikos Taverna, you must wander through the seaside town's labyrinthe of lanes intentionally designed to confuse pirates back in the old days. Nowadays it is said that the crooked narrow streets also help deter the strong winds during storms.

Just remember all you need to say to any villager is "Petros" and you'll find your way to one of the pelican's usual hangouts. A visit to Mykonos is not complete without a Petros sighting, so look for the pelican before or after you reach the other island icon (those above mentioned windmills).

Leave a Comment

Directions: Near the waterfront, before you reach the windmills